While most Americans continue to see diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as a key part of corporate responsibility, fewer now consider it a top priority, according to a new survey by Bentley University and Gallup.
The survey found that 69% of Americans say businesses should promote DEI, the lowest level recorded since the survey began tracking attitudes in 2022. At the same time, only 35% believe companies are doing a good or excellent job in implementing DEI programs.
The decline in perceived importance is particularly pronounced among Republicans, with support dropping from 49% in 2024 to 33% in 2025. Democrats (96%) and independents (67%) remain more likely to value DEI initiatives. Support also varies by demographics: Black adults (88%), Asian adults (78%), Hispanic adults (75%), and women (79%) are more likely than White adults (63%) and men (56%) to view DEI as important.
Despite this decline in priority, Americans still link diversity to business performance. 61% say companies with diverse workforces are more profitable, and 64% see them as more innovative.
Concerns remain about workplace conflicts and discrimination, but overall majorities disagree that diversity inherently causes these issues. Notably, skepticism has increased among Republicans, with those seeing diversity as causing employee conflict rising from 44% to 57% over the past year.
Beyond internal practices, Americans expect companies to take visible stances on social issues. In 2025, majorities supported corporate engagement on diversity (56%), mental health (57%), climate change (58%), free speech (58%), and healthcare (55%), reflecting a rise in expectations for public leadership compared with 2024.
The findings highlight a paradox: while Americans continue to see DEI as valuable for business success, they are increasingly skeptical about how well companies are delivering.
Rising public expectations for visible action suggest that businesses will need to demonstrate meaningful, measurable results to maintain credibility.
